If you are tired of high energy bills for cooling your home, consider replacing your old central air conditioning system with a modern energy efficient unit. Even a central air conditioner that is only 10 years old may be just half as efficient as the energy efficient central air conditioning systems on the market today. Older, worn out units are even less efficient.
Government regulations that took effect in 2006 set the minimum seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) for central air conditioning systems at 13 and some new energy efficient units have SEER ratings as high as 26. Central air conditioning systems sold just a few years prior to 2006 had SEER ratings as low as 6.
As a central air conditioning system ages, it slowly becomes less and less efficient. Regular HVAC system maintenance can help any system operate as efficiently as possible, but over time the energy efficiency of any air conditioning system declines. Older, worn out systems have to work harder to cool your home and use more energy as a result.
Even if your central air conditioning system is working well, it may be using more than twice the energy that modern air conditioners need to maintain the same level of cool comfort in your home. Depending on the cost of energy in your area, you may be able to save so much money on your cooling costs that a new unit could pay for itself in as little as 5 to10 years. Your local heating and air conditioning contractor can help you determine whether it makes sense to replace your old central air conditioning system.
